The Time Doctor website asks visitors simple questions (1 & 2). The questions are designed to be answered affirmatively, which leads the user to an invitation to try Time Doctor’s software for free (3). If the user accepts it, the following popovers ask for more information (4) and to start installation (5).

Some websites utilize Exit Intent Popovers to prevent visitors from leaving their site. We admit there is indeed some upside to Exit Intent Popovers. If not, they would not be used at all. But it's not feasible to show too many popovers and our experience (and others' experience) indicates that conversion rates are significantly improved when the Popover is displayed at page load or shortly after. Here’s why Exit Intent Popovers disappoint.

Upon opening ESPN.com, a popover advertising products from Home Depot takes over about one third of the page (1a). The ad contains a "close" option in the top right corner, but it recedes to a horizontal banner format within a few seconds (1b). The message in the popover is reinforced by two vertical banners (2) and a rectangular ad further down the page (3).